Schools are straight up missing textbooks for local languages, and the government's finally stepping in. A check of Bulawayo bookshops showed major shortages for languages like IsiNdebele, Tjikalanga, and ChiTonga, sparking complaints from educators. This gap directly hurts the new Heritage-Based Curriculum, which focuses on mother-tongue teaching and cultural knowledge.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo admitted the problem. He confirmed that while some ChiShona and IsiNdebele books, mainly for Grade Seven, are trickling in, other languages are still waiting. His department plans to create new learning modules to fill these voids. For the moment, teachers will keep using older Competency-Based Curriculum books for some topics.
The Heritage-Based Curriculum itself aims to weave Zimbabwe's culture and history into lessons, moving away from pure memorization. It pushes skills like leadership, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. President Mnangagwa has consistently called indigenous languages a key national resource for development and social change.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association CEO, Dr. Sifiso Ndlovu, warned that this textbook shortage creates a real classroom crisis, impacting how teachers teach and what students learn. The country officially recognizes sixteen languages, including Sign Language and ChiShona. The President has previously argued that promoting these languages is vital for unity, preserving history, and inclusive national development.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo admitted the problem. He confirmed that while some ChiShona and IsiNdebele books, mainly for Grade Seven, are trickling in, other languages are still waiting. His department plans to create new learning modules to fill these voids. For the moment, teachers will keep using older Competency-Based Curriculum books for some topics.
The Heritage-Based Curriculum itself aims to weave Zimbabwe's culture and history into lessons, moving away from pure memorization. It pushes skills like leadership, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. President Mnangagwa has consistently called indigenous languages a key national resource for development and social change.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association CEO, Dr. Sifiso Ndlovu, warned that this textbook shortage creates a real classroom crisis, impacting how teachers teach and what students learn. The country officially recognizes sixteen languages, including Sign Language and ChiShona. The President has previously argued that promoting these languages is vital for unity, preserving history, and inclusive national development.
